Slime separator and classifier.



GL ALLEN. SLIME SEYARATOR AND CLASSIFIER. APPLGAToN FILED SEPT. 7, 1909.

latened Feb. 15, 1910.

INVENTGR: CHARLES ALLEN, www@ ms ATIorNaY.

SLME SEPARATOR AND GLASSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED Sl`.ll.',19094 Amm.

wwmzssas w ff f i d @.ALLEN SLME SEPARATOR AND CLASSIFIER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1909.

949,560, Fatena Feb. 15, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wrm 5555 @mk-ew@ a:

.mma LES ALLE @Aj HFSATYGR HEY machine embodying'the invention.

CHARLES ALLEN, 0F PAS,

LvE SEPAJTOR AWD CLASSFIER.

'o @ZZ @050m it may concern:

citizen or". the United States, residingw at Paso, in the county of El Paso and Entate or rJleiras, hsve'invented new -and vuseful ,lm-

provements in Slime Separatore and Classiiiersb of vhich the following is a specificatie-n.

lie/ty invention relates to e pulp supporting y and classifying apparatus of the generai type shown in my former application, Seria. ilo. 477,188,iled Feb. l0, 1909.

The objects vof the invention will more :tally appear hereinafter. The intention consists of the parts and construction and combination of parts diaphragm. Fig. fi is a detail ot the ineens tor limiting tlie side motion of the top of the cone. Fig. 5 is a detail of part of the meeiienism otA Fig. l cn an enlarged scaie.

Referring to 'the open type ot tenir shown. in Fig. l, A represents a tank ci any suitable description adapted to contain water or other suitable liquid, and 2 is an immersed ecne'in oating suspension in the tank, and here shown as provided with the annular buoy f5 attached to the cone.A

4i is e shield shown in the form .of a truncated cone end provided Witii a rim or tien-ge 5 at tile top adapted to slip over the top edge ot the tank e.; e piece of blanket, or' rubber sheeting, or other suitable gasket, represented at 6, being inserted 1oetween the edge of the tank and the under side of the overlianging ange 5 to torni a tight joint. This truncated cone 1i projects for e short. distance into, but does not touch, the iinmcrsed cone 2, nor does it interfere with the Yertical movement -ot tlie latter; it being understood that the cone or receptacle is essentially tree to tall and rise in the liquidcontaining tank A, according es the weight in the receptacle is addedl to, or diminished.

""ilie pur the conical shield is to employ tee ruil radius orwidtli of the containingtenlt es a settling n area, venting solid particles i by prtroin settlin between inmerso-d cone; the loose Specification or" Letters latent Application filed September "f,

it known that CHARLES ALLEN,

MW. Seriell No. @2559.

teiescoping action of the cone within the shield providing tor this.

The material to be classified is ted into the rcceptecie by any suitable means end 'in any suitable manner. As here shown, is a tloating',` hopper by which the pulp stream is conducted into the cone, this lhopper being being suitably buoyed up by the air chainber 8 carried by the hopper.

Sis a, Wooden iioat or block upon which tile entering puip stream impinges, so es to prevent undesirablecurrents in the settling receptacle. This floating hopper is held in position by the chains l0. The buoyancy of the `hopper may loe varied by admitting or discharging air into or from tile air chamber 8 through a suiteliie normally closed eir inlet 1l.

L. is a leundervsurrounding the tanlr to conduct away the claried water.

13 is a ring or band ofi lead, Wood, or other suitable material, secured around tlie lip of tile hopper or discharge edqe from. the top of the tenir, and which rino" er rim can easily loe dressed or rasped down, so that 1n setting up the tank, or in case the tank settles, the edge can be dressed to e true horizontal, so as to insure e uniform dis charge ot' clarified Water atfell points. l

prefer to use a strip of lead because .it is` easily Worked and neither shrinks nor swells'.A

It desired, a strip 1d of porous material, such as cloth or tlie like, may be neng around the discharge edge ofi the tenis the strip projecting into the Weterin the Lione e short distance, say three or four invites, and overlianging the outside of the tenir a distance of six inches, more or less; time tn rrning'a Siphon by capillary attrectionAto draw oit the elaried Water.

'The discharge ofthe settled solids in the cone .takes place at fthe loottom thereof, ind 1s controlled by the following means: Elie apex oit the conelies riveted, 0r other rounds the outlet, and in this casting is removably secured a plug 1G leaving a -discharge spout 17 tl'irough which the discharge ot the settled matter in the conetaires Wise secured to it, a casting l5 which surplace. The spout i? is of suitable shape and'V construction. and is preterebiy here shown as curved, with itss'rnoutli portion approximately in the line oi the anis of the cone, and this mouth portion is adapted to coact with a' ixed platel which carries on its under side a suitable packing 19. The net ural buoyancy of the cone under normal conditions will carry the mouth of the spout '17 up against the packing .1.9 and close the outlet4 from the cone. When the cone sinks, the spout17 moves down "with it and away from the valve plate v18, thereby uncovering the outlet from 'the cone and allowing `dis-..

char e to take place. Any suitable means may e employed to hold the plug and spout in position. .As here shown, I employ the eye-bolts y2O carried by casting 15 fitting perforations in'a flange on casting 15, with tightening nuts screwing on to the bolts.A

'lhis forms a iirm attaching means, and at the saine time it enables the spoutv and plug i to he easily removed and renewed or replaced, as where it is desired to vary the size of the discharge nozzle. The plug -Awhere it fits into the casting or seat 15 is 2O preferably cone-shaped to facilitate its removal.

'In order to prevent the discharging material from spurting as it issues from the noz- Vzie underneath the plate 18, I-employ the followingr means 21 represents a funnel. suitably iseating in4 the bottom of the lcone and' having a more or less restricted discharge into the nozzle VBy changing thesecones and using cones with dierent sized outlets at thebottom, I can vary the rate of discharge fromv the cone, without any need for changing. 'either'the nozzle 17 or any of its parts or attachments.

The funnel 21 may or may not be fastened in position, since ordinarily it will he held in position by its own weight and the downward force of the overlyingv material. Coacting with the outlet of the funnel 21' is a rod 22 having a conical projection or head 23. This rod may be su J- ported in any suitablefway, so that normally with the nozzle'closelup against plate 1S the head 23 will touch the-sidesof the funnel L,21 and form a su plem'ental closure-to..the

discharge from t e cone. 1When the immersed cone sinks, the head 23 will remain stationary, and an annular opening will be formed around it and between it and the inside of the funnel 21, through which the settled material may pass intov the nozzle cone orfblock 24 which will coact withthe eaaeeo contracted lower end of the cone to cause the solids to draw of from all parts of the settled mass, instead of drawing from the center only, as would occur if this spreader 21iwas omitted. Suitable means, as the clamp' collar and set screw 25, may be em*- ployed to adjust the height of the conical spreader 24 on 'the rod, and similarly, the antispurting head 23 may be made adjustable by `suitable means, as the turnhuckle 26. Any suitable means maybe provided for suspending the rod 22 and its spreading and anti-spurting connections. As here shown, in the open-topped type vof machine, Fig. 1, it is carried on the chain 27 one end of the chain being secured at 28, and the other end eXtendi-n over the outside of the tank and being a justably engaged in its links by a pin 29. This method of freely suspending the rod 22 is preferred, since it permits it to move freely horizontally in all directions, thereb allowing it to swing to one side and doub e the average width of the space between either the spreader .24 or the anti-,spurtin device 23, and the side of the cone, shoulc it be necessaryto permit coarserparticles to pass.

The lower end of the cone projects i through the bottom, of the tank, and the water is retained in the tank by any suitable A means which will provide for the proper maintenance of the cone in floating suspension and allow for itslproper rising and falling movements, and permit of the operations dependent onA such movements.Y As here shown, l empl-oy a` cylindrical casting 30 suitably fixed to the bottom of the tanlc around the outlet opening therein and suitably packed, as shown at. 31. This casting has an annular mercury cup 32in which a cylindrical member or rigid dia hragm 33 carried by the cone a-nd surroun ing the' outlet and nozzle is vadapted to operate. This cup or pocket 32 is iille'd to a sufficient depth with mercury throughan ordinarily capped inlet 34. The casting has an upwardly extending annular flange o1- cyl, inder 35 with'its upper edge beveled corresponding to the pitch of the cone, and this beveled cylinder' 35 is adapted to form a seat to"supp0rt the cone when the latter settles to its lowermost position and ,uncov ers its outlet through nozzle 17. When the machine is set up with the cone resting on the beveled cylinder 35, and vbefore the addition of water either to the cone or to the tank, the cap 36 is removed from the inlet 34 and mercury is poured into the pocket 32. Preferably the month of this inlet or nipple 34 is placed at such a level that by filling .the pocket 32 until the' mercury lOf shows at the top ofthe'nipple, the proper l quantity of mercury will be used so as to insure a proper seal uii'der all ordinary working conditions forthat particular machine.

ciaooo litter adding the mercury and replacing the cap 36, the 'tank A and cone 2 are simul-v taneously filled with mater. s the Water rises in the tank A it will by its pressure force the mercury on the opposite side of the cylinder diaphragm 33 to a' higher level. atthe .eine time lowering the surface ot' the mercury on the side covered by the unter; but it is understood that the quantity of mercury in the pocketSQ is always suiiicient to maintain a tight Water seal in the tenir. The mercury forms a trop that retains the Water in the tanl: at times, While permitting a tree Verti movement o the com und its partition cyl-A i-nder 33. This construction ot partition cylinder 33 and mercury seal permits of practically trictionless vertical movement of the immersed cone. Suitable means, the adjustable chains 37, may he employed to limit the upward movement of the immersed cone, as otherwise damage might occur tothe parts Ncontrolling discharge from the conc. lliese chains 37 are attached to the cone and carry eye-bolts 38 which project through the hottom of the cylinder at the feet oi thehraees 39. By screwing upV simultaneously on all of the nuts 40 the cone may be pulled down und lmade to discharge its contents independent ot the load within they cone; and by drawing the cone down far enough so that it is brought in tight contact with and rests on top of the casting 30, the water een he maintained in the tank temporarily independent of the mercury seal, and so allow tor the replacement and repair `ot the valve plate l or the parte 521-15-16, or the reiilling 'of the 'mercury cup. ilfhen the 40 repairs or reploceniente have been made the nuts l-O are slaolrened, ellowing the cone to rise until the mouth of the discharge nozzle contacts with the under side ot the valve plete i8.

4l is e pipe for admitting; Water to the air chamber 3 to Very the buoyancy ot the cone, and l2 is en air outlet therefor. e3 is an inlet for Water for filling the tank A, and fill is a draw-ott coclr therefor.

50. ere rows of iron halls floating on the mercury to center the lower end ot the cone.

A y ln order to limit the lateral movement of the top oit the cone, l may provide the chains or links l5 connected to the cone et suitable intervals around its circumference by the eye-bolts 46. The outer ends of these chains connect with the swivels Il?, through each of which passes a screw-heeded threaded bolt 4:8. Each holt 48 is threaded into gfe. threaded casting 4t2). By screwing up or loosening more or less on' the bolts 48, the `movement. not the cone within desired limits 'may he regulated; the yconnect-ions being suiicientlw-ilenihle to permit ot" the desired solids settle to the bottom oi tie receptacle sinlt; this ye"tical movement beine ln operation, the cone end tenir are filled with Water.. `The pulp stream is conducted into the suspended cone through the floating; liogper 7 until the desired depth of settled material is over the outlet lT-ll. @nulli 7o cient Waiter ie let into the eir chamber 3 through the i'alved pige 4l, the airescaping through pipe 42 until the cone and its con tents are in equilil rium,the pulp stream heim; again conducted into, the cone. The 7 and the water flows over the edges or" the coneinto the teni( A thence out l2. 'lie motive torce that actuates the machine is the diterence in the specific gravity eo the substances, such :is sand and Water, .ted to the machine. is the send or other partir cles having a specitic gravity greater then Water settle to the point of the cone they' accumulate until they cause thek cone 'to e im possible by reason of the mercury seal or equivalent ineens employed to keep in -the Water in the tank and et the same time allow for the proper rise end tell of the cone. As the cone Sinks under the Weight ot the accumulatin@` solids, the discharge nozzle li' 'is moved away from valve plate i8, allowingn the4settled solids in the cone to loe discharged until the buoyancy ot the float 3 95 'overcomes the 'Weight ot the cone and its contents7 when ,the conerises, closing 'the outlet automatically.

i is to he cheers-*ed that the settling-cone 'freely susgended in the "quid rin tenir A, loo and that the movement of the cone is inclependent ot the means by which it ie suspeniled or supported. This liquid balance rires a sensitiveness not possible in neef chilies using a rigid connection or ordinary 195 fulcruming action. The immersed cone 'edjuste itself until the. same quantity ot is passing out asis being settled in the con regardless ot the quantity -f Water end si Ines entering' the cone. The discharge lio troni the cone through 1'? verles with the change in the feed, out with n uniform 'l the same depth of settled materiel will n'ininteined over the outlet, end the den of the settled materiel in the cone determines the quant-ity of Water pessingout' with it, and this depth ie determined by the buoyancy ot the air chamber 3. The toll hydrostatic pressure assists the discharge `from the cone, so that the outlet does not 12e choke, either hy a. sudden inflow' of send, or

standing' closed. The discharged materiel is su'liicientlyv treed from weiterv tor direct conveyance to tube mills.

The capacity ot the machine is the clfiriiBS tying eepzicity of the radius of the tenir li.

'Regardless ot size, the immersed parts ore never te" removed troni equilibrium. For this reason, inertia is almost absent., The only movement heine* :i short, sion7 risif sinking ot' the immersed cone, the friction is exceedingly slight. [is there are no vt'ulcrumed parts the machine is very sensitive, a few pounds actuating it, although the actuating 'torce ot a large machine may exeeed 2G00 pounds, and the buoyancy of the air chamber exceeds 5000 pounds. Once adjusted, the machine is automatic in operation.A ln Fig. 3, l have vshown a modification oi' the invention as applied to a closed top machine.` lnthis case the tank A is closed at the top,and the upward movement of the suspended cone 2 is limited by contact of the points 49 with the under side ofi-thc closed top. ln this case the rod 22', vhaving the head 23 vand spreader 24, is suspended tromalever 27', which latterY is ulcrumedl on a fixed bracket 2S. 29 is an adjusting -29 screw acting lon lever 27 for regulating the ysize ot the discharge outlet for the settled material. ,mercury seal 32 and partition member 33, of Fig. 1, to retain the water, l employ an 25. equivalent construction -in the form of a fler'rible diaphragm 33 connected at its ends to .theupper and lower iianges 31-32 carrie'd, res ectively, on the under side of the cone, an the upper side of the'bottom of the tank. This flexible diaphragm 33 is of any suitable impervious material capable or' keeping the water in the tank` at the saine time allowing the immersed cone to rise and' fall under' its variations of load. Preferably 35 this diaphragm has a length but slightly in `excess of the maximum movement of the immersed cone. rlhis diaphragm or tlexible ring may, if necessary', have rigid hoops einbedded in the woven flexible material to 40 prevent the ring collapsinglunder a great pressure in the tank. v

in order to limit the downward movement oi. the cone, and also form a means of supporting the cone to permit of replacement or repair of the diaphragm without havin to empty the tank, l may-employ a c liner 35 supported on the bottom of t e tank A', with the upper edge of the cylinder 35 beveled to form a seat for the cone when the latter sinks to a certainlevel.

By tightening the nuts on the eye-bolts 38', the cone can be lowered until it seats tight on the end ot the cylindeil 35, and keep in the water while repairs or replacements are made. This closed type of inachine is principally uscd'and was principally designed to classify the solid particles into finer and coarser separated particles. A stream of water conveying thesolid particles is admitted through 7"where it meets an upwardly flowing current oi water that enters the-'tank A at 43'; cock lli" ordinarily being closed. The quantity ot` water admitted at 43' determines the velocity of y the rising current.- through 7, and this ln this case instead of using the ytions oi' a valve.

velocity through 7 determines the size of the solid particles which by their own weight can sink through this ascending current in 7 into the immersed cone beneath, boing discharged automatically from the latter .by the rise and fall ot the cone, as previously described. The solid particles which do not have suiiicient Weight to sink through the upward current of water in 7 r{iow on over the inlet "of 7 and are sep- 7:5

arately collected by means not -necessary here to be shown. Thus the pipe 7 classities out the coarser particles, and similar mechanism may be employed farther down to classify out the finer particles. `Whereg() all the settlingis to be done in the one appai'atus, the upward counter-current through 7 may' be dispensed with, in which case no water is let in through i3- In that case .the only water passing through 7 into the g5 tank is that -toreplace the water discharging with the settled material through 17.

In order to obviate spurting during` dis charge, l employ 'the funnel 21 er1 an equivalent construction whereby there is a restricted discharge provided from the tank into the discharge passage of the nozzle 17. ln actual practice I have found that the restricted discharge opening at the lower end of the cone should, with very fluid matter, be approximately one-fifth Vthe area of the discharge nozzle, in order to prevent spurting. While I have shown the nozzlesin both cases here as curved, coperating with the valveplate 18 orl8, it is 'manifest that 100 this nozzle could be of any other shape, straight, for instance, in which case the head 23 may perform the ordinary fun'cln all cases, however, I prefer to use the funnel Q1 or 21, or an 105 equivalent, for the purpose of providing a restricted passage between they outlet end of the nozzle and the qreceptacle. l

Having thus described my invent-ion, jvhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Pat- 110 ent is l. in a separator for liquids and solids, the combination of a liquid containing tank, abuoyant receptacle adapted to rise and fall in the liquid in said tank, flexible means for suspending the receptacle in the tank while permitting it to rise and tall, said -l receptacle having arestricted outlet, and a conical member disposed'in the outlet and forming between its outside and the wall of the discharge outlet ya restricted passage adapted to prevent spurting, a valve'carried by the receptacle and a seat against which the valve closes when the receptacle rises.

,2. In a separator for liquids and solids, the combination of a liquid containing tank, a buoyant receptacle ,ada ted to rise and tall in the liquid in the tan eachreceptacle having a discharge outlet at its' bottom, 130

means for suspending' tile receptacle to permit 1t to rise and fall, said outlet having a restricted passage betweenits outlet end and l the receptacle to prevent spurting, a spout continuation of the outlet of the receptacle having its outer end upturned, and means for closing the outer end of the spout as the receptacle rises in the tank.

. In a separator for liquids and solids,

' the combination of a liquid containing tank,

aibuoyant receptacle adaptedto rise and fall in 4the liquid in the tank having a discharge outlet at its bottom, means for suspending the receptacle to permit it to rise and fall,

said'outlet having means to provide a re stricted passage between its outlet end and the receptacle, a closure for said outlet, 'and means independent of said closure coperating with said restricted passage to prevent sporting when discharge takes place through the outlet, said last-named means including a .conical plug arianged in said outlet and maintuinedstationary 'relatively to the re-l ceptacle.

5. ln a'separator for liquids and solids, the combination of a liquid containing tank, a buoyant receptacle adapted to rise and fail in the liquid .in the tank having a discharge outlet at its bottom, 'means for 'suspending the receptacle to permit it to rise and ifa-ll, said outlet having means t revent spurting, said outlet curved lateral y, and a lined valve plate cooperating With-the end of the outlet to close the latter when the receptacle moves upward?.

t. ln a separator'for liquids solids, the combination or", a rising and falling receptacle having a discharge, outlet at its bottom., means for suspending the receptacle lo per it. to rise and fail, said outlet having a-restrictedpassege between its outlet end and the receptacle, said outlet curved laterally, a fixed valve plate cooperating with the end of the outlet to close the latter when the receptacle moves upwardly,`and a head or plug member within the receptacle clos able over said outlet when the outlet is closed by said valve plate.

'i'. lil a separator for liquids and solids, the combination oavrising and fall:

ceotacle wine; ad "a" outlet ve t the combination of a liquid containing tank,

a buoyant receptacle of conical form adapt` ed to riseand fall in the liquid in the tenir,

said receptacle having a discharge outlet at its bottom, means forsuspending the receptacle to permit it to rise and fall, a rod suspended inside of and supported inde endentof the receptacle and having a hea member coperating With said 'outlet as enclosure, said rod supported to swing horizontally, and means for adjusting said head member vertically on the rod.

9. ln a separator for liquids and solids,

the combination of a liquid containing tanlt, a buoyant receptacle of conical form adapted to rise and fall in the liquid in the tank, said receptacle having a discharge outlet at its bottom, means for suspending the receptacle to permit it .to rise and tall, rod flexibly suspended in and supported independent of the receptacle and havin@ a head member cooperating with said outlet as a closure, and an adjustable spreader-carried by the rod above said head.

l0. ln a separator for liquids and solids, the combination of a rising and fallingJ receptacle having a discharge outlet at its bottom, means for suspending the receptacle to permit it. to rise and fall, a closure for the outlet, a rod'suspended in and su ported in dependent of the receptacle and) having a head member cooperating with said outlet as a closure and an adjustable conical spreader on the rod above said head.

ll. A separator for liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tank, a buoyant separating vessel in floating suspension .in the liquid contents of the tank and. haw

ing a discharge outlet for the solids outside ico the' tenir, a removable funnel member co-V l acting with. said outlet to prevent spurting, and av closure for the outlet.

l2. A separat-or for liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tank, a separatingvessel in oating suspension in the tank. and having a discharge outlet for the solids outside the tank, said discharge out: let comprising a curved conduit, a member coacting with said passage to prevent s urting, and e closure for the outlet, sai closure comprising a-flxed plate, toward and from which said curved conduit is movable on the rise and fall of the receptacle.

13. A separator for liquids and. solids comprisino a liquid-contalmng tank, a senain. suspension (Hf l. c: nl

Atank andhaving a dischar e outlet for the solids outside the tank, sai discharge out let comprising acurved conduit having intei-'mediate of its length a restricted passage for contro to prevent spurting, a 4headed member in the receptacle and supported'independent thereof and elosable over` the outlet, .a rod lsupporting said headed member, and means for supporting` the rod at diiiierent levels.

lll. A separator for liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tank, an inverted separating cone suspended in the liquidin the tank, said cone havin@ an outlet for the solids, a closurefor tile outlet operative automatically bn the rise and tall oi' the cone, said outlet' extending through the bottom of the tank, an extendible vdiaphragm connecting the coner and tank and `surroending said outlet to keep the water in the tank and allowing the cone tovrise fall and a cylindrical member within the tan limiting the downward movement ci the cone operative to form a coller-dam to retail-1th@ Water in thetank Whemthe gone is supported on said cylindrical ment i5. A separator for liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tank, an inverted separating cone in -lioating suspension ,in theftank, said cone having an outlet for, the solids, a valve .forcontrelling said outlet, means for operating the valve 'on the rise and tall of the cone, an entendible diaphragm connecting the cone and tank and surroundina the outlet, and an inflexible impermeabili Wall inside the tanl: and around. the diaphragm' and operative to support `the cone'- on its limited downward movement and to keep the water in `the tank independent of said diaphra m.

1d. A separator for iquids and solids comgorising a liquid-containing tanlr,abuoy ant inverted separating cone in Heating sus pension4 in the liquid contents of tank, said yc'one havin an outlet for the solids, a valve ing the outlet, means wherebysaid valveis opened and closed by therise and fall of the cone in the liguid in the tank,

and means independent or the valvefor varyin` the discharge through' the outlet,

17.l separator for liquids and solids comprising a liquidcontaining tank, an inverted' separating cene in Heating suspcnu sion in the tank, a' buoy oating'in the' tank and suspending the cone, saidl constar-ing an outlet for the solids, a. valve .i'or controllin said outlet, said valve supported inde en ent of the cone, and a removable iunne member arranged in ,said outlet,

18. AA separator for' liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tanlr, an i1everted separating conc in Heating suspension in the tank, said cone havingan outlet for the solids at its apex extending outside the tank, the apex portion ofthe cone sur-v essaies' rounded by a casting, a removable plug fitting into said casting, said plug having means to provide a restricted apertureoperi@` ing into the tank, an enlar ed portioum continuation of said restricted aperture, and' a member supported Within and independf cnt of the cone coasting with said restricted 'of the tank' and loosely telescoping with the sion in the tank, said cone having an outlet.

for the solids, a valve for controlling the outlet, means whereby said valve isI opened and closed .b the rise andv fall of the-cone, and means for feeding material to be separated into the cone, said tank having an 'overflow around its periphery, and the lipy of'said tanl over which overflow takes pla-efeA comprising a lstrip of lead or like easily workable material;

21. A' separator for liquids and solids comprising a hquid-containlng tank, an inverted separatine cone in limiting suspension in the tank, saidbcone having an outlet for the 'solids, a valve for controlling the outlet, means whereby said valve is opened and closed by the rise and fall of the cone, and a conoidal. shield sup orted on the edge of the tank and loosely telbsco ing with the inside of thev cone, said shie d having a lead rimaround its upper edge and over which overflow from thc tank takes place.

22. ln aseparator for liquids and solids,

the combination With' a liquid-containing tank and separating means therein, of a floating hop'per in floating suspension in the tank, and means for disehargin air into or from the hopper for varying tie. buoyancy of said hopper.

28, ln a separator for liquids and solids, the combination with a liquid s containing tank and separating means therein, of a lloating hop er in floating suspension in the tank, means or varying the buoyancy of the hopper, 'and a floating splash block in the hoper. i p 2li. A separator for liquids and solids comv@rising a liquid-containingl tank, an 1nverted separatin cone in Heating suspension in the tank, said cone having; an outlet for the solids, a valve Afor controlling the outlet, means for operatingthe valve on the rise andl fall otkthe cone, means connecting ian the cone and tank and Surrounding theout let to retain the Water in the tank and allow l the cone to rise and tall, and independent water retaining means for retaining` the vvater in the tank when the conc Sinks below a predetermined level` Separator for liquids and I,olidfs comprising liquid-containing tank, an in vertod Separating cone in .tioating suspension .in the tank, said cone having anv outlet for the solids, a, valve for controlling thc outlet.

n means tor operating the valve on the rise and tall ot the cone, means connecting the conc and tank and Surrouiuling tlie-ontlct to retain the water in the tank. a c vlinder in the tank surrounding said water-nataining meanel and operative to support the cone when the latter sinks below a predetermined level` and means acting againet the buoyancy ot the cone to depres and hold the ttor on the cylinder.

l itl 2li. A separator tor liquids and Solide compriaingn liquid-containing tank, an inverted separating conc in floating Suspcnaion in the f tank, said cono having-an outlet for the solids, a. valve for controlling the outlet, moans for ogerating the val vo on the rise and tall ot the conc, moansA connecting the conc and tank and anr u1u;ling the outlet QT. in a separator tor liquida and solids, the combination o-" a nqunl-containing tank,

an inverted se iarat'in cone in tloatino susl y l i p; nsioii in thc tank, said cone having an outlet for the solids outeidc the tank, moana tor controlling the discharge through said outlet on 5 the and tali oi3 the conc, and means for retaining thc water in the tank independent` ot the rise and tall of the cono, which last mcanS include a mercury seal. vcarried hy the tank and surrounding the'outlct, and a diaphragm member on the cone coacting with the mercury Seal.

28. A separator :tor liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tank, a receptacle in floating suspension in the tank, said floating receptacle having a discharge outletfor the Solids outside the tank, a valve for said outlet, a mercury seal carriedhv the tank and surrounding the outlet, and a diaphragm member on the conc coacting with the mercur);Y seal to retain the water in the tank indcpcinlent 'ot the rise and fall of the cone.

Q9. A separator for liquids and Solids compriaing a liquid-containing tank, a receptacle in lloating suspension in the tank, said iioating receptacle having a discharge outlet for the solid.Q outside the tank, a valve for said outlet, a mercury seal carried h v the tank and ,surrounding the outlet, a diaphragm member on the cone enacting` with the inercur)Y seal to retain the water in the tank independent of the rise and tall of the cone, and moans lloating on the mercury and cooperating with said center the cone.

30. separator tor liquids and solids comprising a liquid-containing tank, areccptacle in tloating susipension in thc tank, said ioating receptacle having a discharge Outlet for the laolids outside the tank, a valve for said outlet, a incrcur)7 Seal carried by the tank and surrounding the outlet, a diaphragm member on the cone coacting with the mer- 'cuxfv seal to retain the water in the tank independent ot' the rigse and tall ot the cone,

I and metal oalls ot less specific gravity than the niercuraT tioating on tho/latter and cooperating with ,Caid diaphragm member -to center the cone. y

ln testimony whereof have hereunto Set my hand in tlux presence of two Subscribing itin-ases.

CHi-ltR-LES ALLEN. lVitnesses:

-CHARLES A. PENFIELD,

Cime. E. lowNS/END.

diaphragm men'iber to 

